Action / Comedy / Drama / Romance

Synopsis

"Elsa and Fred" is the story of two people who at the end of the road, discover that it's never too late to love and make dreams come true. Elsa has lived for the past 60 years dreaming of a moment that Fellini had already envisaged: the scene in 'La Dolce Vita' at the Fontana di Trevi. The same scene without Anita Ekberg in it, but with Elsa instead. Without Marcello Mastroianni but with that love that took so long to arrive. Fred has always been a good man who did everything he was supposed to do. After losing his wife, he feels disturbed and confused and his daughter decides that it would be best if he moves into a smaller apartment where he ends meeting Elsa. From that moment on, everything changes. Elsa bursts into his life like a whirlwind, determined to teach him that the time he has left to live -- be it more or less -- is precious and that he should enjoy it as he pleases. Fred surrenders to Elsa's frenzy, to her youth, to her boldness, to her beautiful madness. And this is ...

"Elsa and Fred" is the story of two people who at the end of the road, discover that it's never too late to love and make dreams come true. Elsa has lived for the past 60 years dreaming of a moment that Fellini had already envisaged: the scene in 'La Dolce Vita' at the Fontana di Trevi. The same scene without Anita Ekberg in it, but with Elsa instead. Without Marcello Mastroianni but with that love that took so long to arrive. Fred has always been a good man who did everything he was supposed to do. After losing his wife, he feels disturbed and confused and his daughter decides that it would be best if he moves into a smaller apartment where he ends meeting Elsa. From that moment on, everything changes. Elsa bursts into his life like a whirlwind, determined to teach him that the time he has left to live -- be it more or less -- is precious and that he should enjoy it as he pleases. Fred surrenders to Elsa's frenzy, to her youth, to her boldness, to her beautiful madness. And this is ...

Tech specs

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by marfrie569 / 10

Adored it

What can I say? I adored it. Anyone that dislikes sentimentality in
movies will hate this - therefore I loved it! The scene in Rome is
remarkably beautiful - as are many other moments in this wonderful
movie. You kiddies out there who think that Shirley MacLain looks too
old and her part should have been recast - screw you. She is wonderful,
wonderful, wonderful. She has been a heartthrob for me since we were
both young. It's great to see her still beautiful (in my eyes anyway)
and her terrific acting talents are on display here as well.
Christopher Plummer is another huge PLUS in this movie. To watch these
great stars on the screen, in parts befitting their, well..advanced
ages - and not "younged down" for general audiences who don't
understand what getting...mature - is all about - well, I really
appreciated it from start to finish. Great supporting cast as well. If
you're, let's say, under 50 (I'm well over), and get uncomfortable or
bored watching it, put it away for a decade (or two or three) or so and
then break it out again. You won't get it now, but you will someday.
For those who recognize the names of the stars, who have watched them
age through the years, and who have a sense of history in their own
lives because you've lived through a lot of stages in your life - you
will love this movie. I guarantee it!

Reviewed by gradyharp7 / 10

La Dolce Vita in Perpetuity

This is one of those films you want to love  strong lead actors and a
solid supporting cast showing another homage to aging gracefully. But
the cake was left in the oven a bit too long and the resultant
'romantic comedy' becomes so Hallmarky that the script drowns the fine
intentions of the actors. Written by Anna Pavignano and Michael Radford
(who also directs), the story is given its best shot by Shirley
MacLaine (age 80) and Christopher Plummer (age 85) but the saccharine
ending is a bit too heavy to hold up the good moments.

Set in New Orleans, the story introduces two people who at the end of
the road, discover that it's never too late to love and make dreams
come true. Elsa (Shirley MacLaine) has lived for the past 60 years
dreaming of a moment that Fellini had already envisaged: the scene in
'La Dolce Vita' at the Fontana di Trevi. The same scene without Anita
Ekberg in it, but with Elsa instead. Without Marcello Mastroiani but
with that love that took so long to arrive. Fred (Christopher Plummer)
has always been a good man who did everything he was supposed to do.
After losing his wife, he feels disturbed and confused and his daughter
(Marcia Gay Harden) decides that it would be best if he moves into a
smaller apartment where he ends meeting Elsa. From that moment on,
everything changes. Elsa bursts into his life like a whirlwind,
determined to teach him that the time he has left to live -- be it more
or less -- is precious and that he should enjoy it as he pleases. Fred
surrenders to Elsa's frenzy, to her youth, to her boldness, to her
beautiful madness. And this is how Fred learns how to live. When he
learns about Elsa's terminal illness, he decides to make her dream come
true and takes Elsa to Rome to reenact with her the famous scene at the
Fontana di Trevi.

The supporting cast includes Scott Bakula, George Segal, James Brolin,
Chris Noth, Wendell Pierce, and Erika Alexandra (in the most
entertaining role as the 'housekeeper' for Fred). It has its moments
and it always is a pleasure to see MacLaine and Plummer no matter how
lame the script's ending. Not exactly the reincarnation of Fellini's La
Dolce Vita, but an entertaining movie.

Reviewed by sforrester-37 / 10

I nice, gentle love story

I didn't expect too much of this but came away pleasantly surprised.
Maclaine and Plummer had good chemistry and it was a good reminder that
life and feelings don't stop with the first grey hair. I thought the
relationships between parents and children were realistic as it's
almost a role reversal and the children start treating the parents like
children. It was a change watching a love story that didn't involve a
handsome young man and a beautiful young woman and showed that love is
love no matter what age you are when you find it. Although the plot was
predictable, it was a nice ride and one I would recommend for a Sunday
afternoon.